Bald Range - Rangi-Taipo - Kelly Tops 18th-19th February 2006

Uncle Roddus Tramping diary:Tramp No 57

Bald Range - Rangi-Taipo - Kelly Tops 18th-19th February 2006

So this was the original trip I did with the CTC along the Bald and Kelly Ranges back in 2006 and which I revisited again in 2011 for another epic adventure(see here) and also see Here for the actual CTC trip report.

The weather for this trip was near perfect as five trampers left the Kelly creek car park about 9:50am on Saturday morning. A nice steep climb up through Beech forest and then flax and low scrub before we hit the tussock and the Caroline Hut after about an hour and a half. The decision was made to take advantage of the fantastic day and do the Bald range first, taking another six hours to Rangi-Taipo where we enjoyed the fabulas views of the Taipo River valley and lake Brunner. Dropped down to the south looking for the start of the track down the Taipo, finally locating the cairn, before we slipped and slided out way down the upper part of the rack and then floundered down the lower and more overgrown section before finally arriving at The Old Dillons Hut, where we stayed the night. The next day involved the much easier travel of up onto the Kelly tops and back to the car via Caroline hut. Day took about 11hours and day 2 about 6.